Pharm CH 2 Cengage Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering medical, pharmacology, and measurement concepts based on the provided notes.

Additive

Substance that is combined with the initial drug for a variety of reasons such as to produce synergistic or agonistic effects. Additives may also be used to dilute, reconstitute, activate, act as a preservative, give flavor to, or alter the pH of the initial drug.

Ante meridiem (AM)

Latin term meaning before midday/noon.

Antibiotics

Drug that inhibits the growth of or kills bacteria.

Biological

1. Pertaining to living matter. 2. Pharmaceutical agents such as blood products and vaccines that originate from living matter.

Arabic numerals

System for numbering that uses a series of symbols to represent the numbers zero through nine (0–9), which is compatible with the decimal system. All other numbers are created by placing the symbols in an assigned place value column.

Apothecary system

Measurement system that originated in ancient Greece and was used by physicians to prescribe medicine and by pharmacists to formulate the prescribed compound. A few medications (such as aspirin, codeine, digitalis, and phenobarbital) are still prescribed and labeled in apothecary terms.

Biological potency

Activity, action, or effect of a drug within the body.

Blood pressure

Force of blood against the lumen of a blood vessel.

Civilian time

Time-keeping system that uses a 12-hour clock in which the 12 numbers repeat; designations of AM and PM are used to represent morning and afternoon. Synonymous with standard time.

Compatibility

Ability of two or more drugs to be prescribed simultaneously or mixed together without causing a negative reaction.

Celsius

Temperature scale that is part of the metric system; also known as centigrade.

Complexation

Situation in which two or more compounds in a mixture form a chemical that inactivates one or more of the drugs.

Contrast media

Radiopaque solution introduced into structures with lumens during radiographic exams to differentiate various tissues.

Decimal system

Numbering system that is part of the metric system and relies on a place value system that is based on multiples of ten and uses a decimal point to separate the whole numbers from the fractions.

Concentrate

To make a solution stronger or denser by removing solvent (liquid) or adding solute (solid usually the drug).

Dehydrated

Product for which the moisture has been removed.

Diluent

Substance used to dilute a solution.

Dose

Prescribed amount (quantity) of a medication.

Dimensional analysis

Process of understanding and applying the relationships between the qualities of various items (such as drugs and systems for identifying and measuring drug dosages) based on the physical characteristics (dimensions) of each item.

Dilute

To make a solution weaker or less dense by adding solvent (liquid) or removing solute (solid —usually the drug).

Dye

Pigment used to color tissue; used when coloration is needed for short duration; may be easily removed or absorbed.

Equivocal

Uncertain; questionable.

Enzyme

A protein that initiates or increases the speed (in other words, acts as a catalyst) of a chemical reaction. The enzyme itself is not expended nor does it undergo any lasting change during the reaction.

Fat-soluble vitamin

Vitamins capable of being dissolved or liquefied in lipids. The fat soluble vitamins are A, E, D, and K.

Fahrenheit

Temperature scale that is part of the household system.

Hemostasis

Stoppage or control of bleeding during a surgical procedure.

Heart rate

Speed at which the heart is beating. Normal heart rate for an adult is approximately 72 beats per minute.

Hemostatic agent

Drug or other substance used to promote blood clotting, maintain a blood clot, or otherwise act to slow or stop bleeding; also called coagulant or procoagulant.

Hormone

Substance produced by a gland that is transported in the blood to have an effect on a body function elsewhere in the body.

Household system

Measurement system primarily used in the United States to determine length, weight, and volume; also referred to as United States customary units.

Hyperthermia

Increase in body temperature.

Hypothermia

Decrease in body temperature.

Incident report

Form used in health care facilities and other business settings to recount any type of adverse or unusual event such as a medication error, a property damage, or an injury to a patient, an employee, or a visitor.

International unit

An arbitrary type of measure that represents the biological potency of a drug within the body regardless of the mass of the substance that is accepted globally. Because a unit is standardized according to the action of the drug, standardization of the unit pertains only to that drug. There is no standard conversion of drugs

Incompatibility

A negative reaction that occurs when two or more drugs or other products are prescribed simultaneously or mixed together.

Instability

Tendency to be unpredictable.

Kelvin temperature scale

Temperature scale commonly used in scientific settings that is based on absolute zero; no number on the scale can be below zero.

Mass

A substance that takes up space and has weight.

Metabolic rate

Speed at which the body expends energy to function.

Posology

Study of dosages of drugs.

Post meridiem (PM)

Latin term meaning after midday/noon.

Military time

Time-keeping system that uses a 24-hour clock to eliminate any potential confusion between AM and PM that may occur within the civilian time-keeping system.

Milliequivalent

Unit of measure that represents one thousandth of a measure. For example, if drug (usually an electrolyte) is measured by weight in grams, then a milliequivalent is one thousandth (0.001) of a gram.

Potency

Strength.

Rankine temperature scale

Temperature scale commonly used in industrial settings that is based on absolute zero; no number on the scale can be less than zero.

Reconstitute

To add a liquid to a dried or concentrated substance to return it to its former condition and/or strength.

Precipitate

Chemical reaction during which a dissolved substance separates from the solution and appears as fine particles suspended in the solution.

Shelf life

Length of time that a product may be stored and remain suitable for use.

Roman numeral system

System of numbering that uses letters (upper or lower case) to represent numbers but does not include a symbol to represent zero; includes a separate system to denote fractions.

Solvent

Substance of a mixture in the larger amount. Typically the liquid portion of a mixture.

Solute

Substance of a mixture in the smaller amount. May be another liquid or a solid that is dissolved by the solvent.

Solution

Mixture of two or more substances that combine easily. Solutions are homogenous.

Stain

Pigment used to color tissue; used when coloration is needed permanently or for long duration; not easily removed or absorbed.

Standard time

Time-keeping system that uses a 12-hour clock in which the 12 numbers repeat; designations of AM and PM are used to represent morning and afternoon; synonymous with civilian time.

Symbol

Character used to represent something else; for example,=is a symbol used to represent the word equals.

Turbidity

Murky or cloudy in appearance.

Vital signs

Provide an overview of an individual’s general condition; vital signs include temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure. Each vital sign has an assigned range of normal values.